Adjustable folding chair.



L m. u nu .m Il s 0 3 n V. M .M S l. 3 d 8 ...l n 6 .I a DI nn. AJ n.0 l o Erw EGV' LNH Elf MDE Lu ROA AFM DIF-m .La rrm .Au WTF. Sw.. UA J( D A m 3 ab.. 9 I. 7 u 6 U nw M N No Ptented July 30, I90IT W. F. PARMELEE. ADJUSTABLE FOLDING CHAIR.

(Application 11166 Angl 11, 1600.)

(N0 Model.)

Patentad'luly 3o, lsol.

W. F. PARMELEE. DJUSTABLE FOLDING CHAIR.

(Application led Aug'. I1, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

mi NunmsPzfzRs co. pHoro-mmc.. wAsmNu'roN. n. c

ihvrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILBUR F. PARMELEE, OF MIDDLETOVN, CONNECTICUT.

ADJUSTABLE FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFCATON forming part Of Letters Patent No. 679,636, dated July 30, 1.901.

Application filed August 11, 1900. Serial No. 26,631. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILBUR F. PARMELEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Folding Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to adjustable folding chairs, and has forits object to provide a chair of the character referred to comprising a collapsible base of novel construction and a seat, back, and leg section arranged to swing or be adjusted in unison at any desired angles relatively to one another.

It also has for its object to provide such a chair wherein the novel base and the combined seat, back, and leg sections are detachable one from the other, whereby the base may be collapsed and the seat, back, and leg sections independently folded up.

It has for another object to provide an improved collapsible base.

It also has for its object to provide such a chair with an improved drop-leg section.

It has for another object to provide such a chair with stirrups to aid in making gynecological examinations and performing gynecological operations.

Finally, it has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of this class of chairs generally and render the same more satisfactory and efficient in operation.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction,co1nbination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved chair. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, showing the seat, back, and leg sections partially detached and raised up from the base. Fig. 3 isa perspective view of the seat, back, and leg sections detached from the base and folded up. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the base partially collapsed. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the means employed for locking the base in its operative position. Fig. (i is a similar view of the means employed for securing the leg-section in its extended position. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the means employed for adjustably holding the foot-rest. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the dovetailed bracket-arms on which the parts shown in Fig. 7 move, and Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the parts shown in Figs. 7 and S assembled in their operative position. Fig. l0 is a view in side eleva-tion illustrating a slight modification. Fig. 1l is a similar view showing the parts adjusted to a different position, and Fig. l2 is a detail perspective view of the movable dowel for holding the parts in the position shown in Fig. ll.

In the drawings the numerals l l indicate the two side or upright members of the collapsible base, each comprising a sill or foot portion 2, having secured to its opposite ends vertical standards 0r uprights 3, that have rigidly attached to their upper ends a rail 4. For the purpose of communicating additional strength and rigidity to the side members of the base the uprights 3 are preferably united intermediate their upper and lower ends by a cross-brace 5. The said side members l are secured together at the front and rear by folding braces, each comprising a bar 6, divided and hinged together centrally between its ends by a hinge 7 and hinged at its ends to the uprights 3 by hinges 8, the hinges being arranged as shown, whereby the braces 6 may be folded inwardly and the side members toward one another, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In order that the base may be folded up into compact form, the front and rear braces 6 are hinged to the uprights 3 in different horizontal planes, the' front brace being shown in the drawings as hinged to the front uprights 3 in a plane above that in which the rear brace is hinged to the rear uprights, whereby when the base is collapsed the front brace will fold over or above the rear brace, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In order to lock the base in its unfolded or extended position and hold it perfectly rigid, I provide the folding braces 6 with suitable fastening devices, each consisting in the present instance of a metallic strap or plate 9, pivoted at one end to one of the sections of the brace near the inner end of said section, as at l0, and notched or slotted at its other end, as at 11, (see Fig. 5,) said notched end bein g adapted to engage aheaded IOO pin 12, fixed in the other section of the brace. The straps or plates 9 constitute pivoted latches which when the braces are unfolded out straight to extend the side members of the base may be turned about their pivots 10 and their notched ends hooked over the pins 12, thus securely locking the braces in their operative positions and causing them to hold the entire base firm and rigid.

Removably sealed on the rails 4 of the base are two bars 13, which form the arms of the chair, said bars 0r arms being each provided on its under side with tenons 14, that are arranged to fit in corresponding sockets or mortises 15, formed in the rails 4, and detachabl'y hold the-arm to their seats on the rails.

The numeral 16 indicates the chair-back frame, to the sides of which and intermediate its top and bottom are fastened brackets 17, which are pivoted, as at 18, to the inner sides of the rear ends of the arms 13.

Pivoted to the inner sides of the front ends of the arms 13, as at 19, are two bars 20,which are united by a cross-bar or round 21, said bar and round constituting the leg frame or section of the chair.

The seatsection comprises two parallel side bars 22, braced together at their front ends by a cross-bar or round 23 and pivoted at their rear ends, as at 24, to the inner faces of the sides of the back-frame 16 and having pivotally secured to the outer sides of their forward ends brackets 25, which are Xed to the inner sides of the bars 20 of the leg-section intermediate the ends thereof. The seatframe has secured thereto a bottom 27, of woven wire or other suitable material, and the back, seat, and leg sections are covered with a single piece of fabric 28-such as carpet, canvas, or the like-which is fastened at its upper end to the top of the back-frame and at its bottom to the cross-bar or round 21 of the leg-section, passing over and about the round 23 of the seat frame or section.

The leg-,section is made in two folding parts-'that is to say, the bars 2O are each divided intermediate their ends, as at 29, and are hinged together by hinges 30, whereby the lower half of said leg-section may be allowed to swing down to a vertical position for the purpose hereinafter described. In order to hold the two halves of the leg-section rigid relatively to one another, I provide the following fastening devices, most clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings: Secured in the upper ends of the lower members of the leg- I section are catches 31, each provided at its outer or free end with a beveled head 32, that is adapted to enter and seat in a recess or socket 33 in the adjacent end of the corresponding upper member of lthe leg-section. Set-screws 34 are screwed through the outer sides of the bars 2O and at their inner ends are arranged to engage the rear ends of the beveled catches 32. It Will be evident that when the set-screws engage the beveled catches in the manner described the two memcrasse bers of each of the bars will be rigidly held in alinement, making an extended leg-section, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings; but by unscrewing the setscrews to retract their inner or lower vends from behind the beveled catches the latter will be released, and the lower half of the leg-section will be permitted to drop down by gravity into a vertical position. It will also be manifest that to secure the two halves of the leg-section rigidly in alinement it is only necessary to raise or draw forward the lower half, when the beveled catches will enter the recesses 33 and will yield until they have passed the ends of the set-screws 34, whereupon they will immediately spring back into position behind the latter.

Fixed t-o the inner sides of the lower ends of the sectional bars 2O of the leg-section are metallic strips 35, which are dovetailed in cross-section or inwardly beveled on their outer opposite edges, as at 36, and near their lower ends are provided on their opposite edges With shoulders 37 and 38, the shoulder 37 being formed below the plane of the shoulder 38 for the purpose hereinafter made apparent.

The numeral 39 indicates a foot-rest comprising two side bars 40, united at their outer ends by a cross-bar or footboard 41 and provided at their inner ends with shoes vertically adjustable on the metallic strips 35. Each of the shoes consists of an integral metallic casting comprising two inclined parallel sides 42, united at top and bottom by transverse webs 43, formed parallel with each other, but at an angle tothe sides 42, said shoes being slipped over the ends of and embracing the edges of the side bars 40 of the foot-rest and pivoted to the latter, as at 44. On the inner side of each of the shoes are cast two undercut lugs or anges 45, formed at the upper and lower ends of said shoes and arranged to embrace the dovetailed edges of the strips 35. The foot-rest is secured in place by slipping the undercut lugs 45 of the shoes over the strips 35, which areprevented from slipping off said strips by the lugs engaging the shoulders 37 and 38. By tilting the forward edge of the foot-rest slightly upward the shoes may be vertically adj usted on the strips 35, and when the foot-rest is released its own weight or the added weight of the feet of the occupant of the chair will tend to move the lugs 45 on each of the shoes in opposite directions, and thereby cause said lugs to tightly grip the opposite edges of the strips 35 and hold the foot-rest in its vertical adjustment. It will be evident that the footrest may be turned up about the pivots 44 as a center and folded between the side bars 2O of the leg-section when the foot-rest is not in use, and it is held in such position by means of a bolt 46, arranged to slide endwise in a bushing 47, tted in the outer end of one of the side bars 40 of the foot-rest and engaging a socket or mortise 47, formed in the inner IOO IOS

IIO

side of the corresponding side bars 2O of the leg-section. i

It will be noted that the seat, back, and leg-section are all three suspended from the arms 13 and that by arranging them in the manner shown they must necessarily move in unison. Hence if the back be tilted rearwardlythe seatwillbe correspondinglyshifted forward and the leg-section will be caused to assume the same angle to the seat-section as the back. The occupant may readily adjust the sections to any angle desired merely by throwing the weight of his body against the back-section and simultaneously thrusting forward his feet against the foot-rest, and when the desired adjustment has been obtained the parts may be locked in their adjusted position by the following means:

The numeral 4S indicates two metallic straps hinged at their rear ends to the sides of the back 16 near the lower ends of the latter, as at 49, and longitudinally slotted at their forward ends, as at 50. Passing through the slotted ends of said straps and through the uprights 3 are headed bolts 51, over the outer threaded ends of which are screwed hand-nuts 52, by tightening up which the straps are firmly clamped between the heads of the bolts and the sides of the uprights 3 and securely held against movement. Hence after the back, seat, and leg sections have been adjusted in the manner desired they are effeetually locked against movement by simply tightening up the hand-nuts, as set forth. The chair being freely suspended from the arms 13 in the manner explained, the back, seat, and leg sections maybe readily adjusted i at any relative angles desired from a perfectly erect position to a reclining position or even to a true horizontal position, in which latter position it will serve as a couch or bed upon which the occupant may lie in a recumbent position. lVith a view to securely holding the parts when the chair is adjusted to the last-named position I form notches or recesses 53 at the upper edges of the inner ends of the slots 50, which fall over and engage the bolts 51 and effectually lock the parts in horizontal alinement.

As above constructed, the chair forms a most comfortable seat or reclining-chair, neat and attractive in appearance, and entirely suitable for use in all circumstances and places in which suoli chairs are commonly employed. It also forms a most convenient and desirable chair or cot for the use of physicians and surgeons and for hospital purposes and to this end is equipped as follows:

To the outer side of the forward ends of the arms 13 are fastened metallic plates 54, on the opposite ends of each of which ar'e cast rectangular loops or eyes 55, and adapted to slide back and forth in said loops are bracket-arms 56, each provided at its outer end with an eye 57, in which is loosely journaled a vertical pintle 5S, formed on the under rear side of a metallic stirrup 59. The bracket-arms 5G have formed on their under sides ratchetteeth 60, which normally engage the lower edges of the loops or eyes 55 and prevent said bracket-arms and the stirrups carried thereby from being moved outward; but by slightly elevating the outer ends of the bracket-arms the latter may be freely moved back and forward in the eyes or loops at will to adjust the stirrups. The stirrups are designed for placing the patient in the most favorable and convenient position to enable the physician or surgeon to make gynecological examinations and perform gynecological and similar operations. When the chair is used for such purpose, after the patient has been seated therein the chair is adjusted to give to the back and leg sections the desired inclination to the seat. The foot-rest is then folded up and secured in place by the bolt 46, and the lower half of the leg-section is permitted to drop down to a vertical position by releasing the pivoted latches 9. The patients heels are then placed in the stirrups 59, iexing the legs and exposing the parts to be examined or operated upon to plain view. By folding up the foot-rest and dropping the lower half of the leg-section down to a vertical position said parts are removed out of the way of the operator and give him free and unobstructed access to the organs to be examined or treated.

For examining and treating the throat and the like a head-rest is provided, comprising a padded support 61, having attached to its rear side one end of an approximately U- shaped rod 62, the other end of which passes through a perforated lug 63, attached to the rear of the upper end of the back-section, and which is held in any desired vertical adjustment therein by a set-screw G4. Fastened to one end of the padded support 61 is one end of a thin metallic strap or ribbon 65, the opposite end of which is provided with a plurality of keyhole slots or apertures 6G, that are adapted to be engaged by a headed pin 67, fixed in the end of the supportll. The metallic strap in practice is covered with fabric or other lsuitable soft material to render the strap comfortable to the head of the patient. The patient is seated in the chair, and the head-rest is adjusted vertically to the head of the patient. The strap is then passed about the patients head and forehead and is secured in place by causing the pin 67 to engage the proper slot or aperture G6 in the end of the strap. The strap and headrest hold the patients head immovable, so that the throat can be carefully and critically examined at ease by the physician, and whereby the physician can skilfully treat the throat without liability of the patient moving his head during the treatment.

As before stated and as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, the back, seat, and leg sections, together with the arms, are readily detachable from the base and when removed may be folded up independently of the base, and the IOO IIO

base may then be collapsed independently of the back, seat, and leg sections and the arms. This arrangement permits of the chair being folded up into a very compact space for transportation or storage,and the chair bein g folded up in two distinct and separate parcels may be very'easily handled and be stored away in places where it otherwise could not be placed. Furthermore, by such arrangement I am enabled to impart to the chair-base great rigidity and solidity-a very important desideratum in such chairs when intended for physicians and surgeons use.

Instead of employing the slotted links 48, before referred to, I may employ the means shown in Fig. 10 for holding the back, seat, and leg sections in their adjusted positions. As shown in said figure, the slotted links 48 are dispensed with, and in their place I employ two metallic straps 68, each of which is pivoted at one end to one of the side bars 20 of the leg-section. In the opposite end of each of said straps is fitted a headed bolt 69, and said bolts pass through slots 70, formed in the cross-braces 5 of the base and have fitted over their outer threaded ends thumbnuts 71. It will be evident that by loosening the thumb-nuts 71 the back, seat, and leg sections can be adjusted at any desired inclination, after which said parts can be locked in place by tightening up said thumb-nuts.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the back-section is provided with two movable dowels, constructed as follows: Screwed or otherwise suitably attached to the rear edges of the lower ends of the side bars 16a of the backsection are two metallic bars or-straps 72, each dovetailed in cross-section, and slidably arranged on each of said straps or bars is ahead or block 7 3, provided with a dovetailed recess 74, in which the bar or strap loosely fits. A set-screw 75 is iitted in the head or block, by means of which the latter may be locked to the bar or strap, and each of said heads or blocks is provided with a laterally inwardlyprojecting dowel or pin 76. If the dowels be adjusted to their lowest positions on the bars or straps 72 and the thumb-nuts 71 be loosened, then the back, seat, and leg sections may be folded down until they lie in the same horizontal plane, in which position the dowels will engage the under sides or edges of the side bars ,22 of the seat-section and prevent the parts from being folded past their horizontal position. If, however, the dowels be adjusted to their highest positions on the bars or straps 72, then when the back and leg sec# tions are folded downward and outward the dowels will clear the rear ends of the side bars 22 and will allow of the seat and leg sections being folded at an angle to the backsection, as shown in Fig. 11. This adjustment of the chair-sections is most useful in making anal examinations and performing like operations, as by causing the patient to lie face downward on the chair the inclined position of the chair-sections throws the posterior parts of the patient into the most convenient position for such. examinations and operations. In moving the parts into either of the adjusted positions above described the headed bolts 69 will freely slide in the slots 70 to permit the chair-sections to assume the desired positions, after which they will be locked securely in place by tightening up the thumb` nut-s 71.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In afolding reclining-chair, the combination with a collapsible base comprising two parallel upright side members arranged to move toward and from one anot-her, of a folding back, seat and leg section, and arms connecting the back and leg sections on both sides, said arms being removably seated on the upper ends of the collapsible side members of 'the-base, substantially as described.

2. In a folding reclining-chair, the combination with a collapsible base comprising two parallel upright side members arranged to move toward and away from one another and each provided at its upper end with a horizontal rail having sockets or mortises formed therein, of two arms removably seated on said rails and provided with tenons detachably fitted in said sockets or mortises, and a folding back, seat and leg section suspended from said arms, substantially as described.

3. A collapsible base for folding recliningchairs,'comprising two parallel vertical rigid frames or side members, cross-bars hinged to said side members at both front and rear, said cross-bars being divided and hinged together at their centers and arranged to fold horizontally inward toward one another, said cross-bars being hinged to the side members in different horizontal planes whereby they may be folded one above the other when the side members are collapsed, substantially as described.

4. In a recliningchair, the combination with the base, of the folding back, seat and leg section, said leg-section comprising two parallel side bars each divided and hinged intermediate its ends whereby the lower portion may be permitted to drop to a vertical position, and means for rigidly locking the hinged portions of said side bars together, substantially as described.

5. In a reclining-chair, the combination with the base, of the folding back, seat and leg section, said leg-section comprising two parallel side bars each divided and hinged intermediate its ends whereby the lower portion may drop to a vertical position, and one of the divided ends of each side bar being4 provided with a recess or socket and locking mechanism rigidly locking the hinged members of the side bars together, comprising a catch itted in the end of one of said hinged members and provided at its free end with a beveled head arranged to it within the recess or socket in the end of the adjacent hinged member, and a set-screw fitted trans- IOO versely in the last-mentioned member and arranged to impinge against the catch behind the beveled head thereof when the members are folded up in alinement, to lock said members together, substantially as described. 6. In a reclining-chair,the combination with the arms thereof, of metallic plates secured to the ends of the arms and each provided with loops or eyes at its opposite ends, bracketarms slidably arranged in said loops or eyes and provided on their under sides with ratchetteeth adapted to engage the loops or eyes and hold the bracket-arms in their adjusted positions, each of said bracket-arms being provided with an eye in its free end, and stirrups provided with vertical pintles loosely journaled in the eyes in the bracket-arms whereby the stirrups may freely oscillate in ahorizontal plane, substantially as described. 7. In a folding reclining-chair, a base, and a folding back, seat and leg section arranged to swing or be adjusted in unison, the arms of the back-section being pivoted above their lower extremities to the arms of the seat-section, in combination with movable dowels adjustably mounted on the lower ends of the arms of the back-section and arranged to engage the under sides of the arms of the seatsection, substantially7 as described and for the purpose specified. A

8. In a folding reclining-chair, a base, and a folding back seat and leg section arranged to swing or be adjusted in unison, the arms of the back-section being pivoted above their lower extremities to the arms of the seat-scc tion, in combination with metallic straps or bars dovetailed in cross-section and attached to the lower ends of the arms of the back-section, dowels slidably mounted on said straps or bars and arranged to engage the under sides of the arms of the seat-section, and setscrews carried by the dowels for locking the latter in their adjusted position on the straps or bars, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

9. In a folding reclining-chair, a base, and a folding back, seat and leg section, arranged to swing or be adjusted in unison, the arms of the back-section being pivoted above their lower extremities to the arms of the seat-section, in combination with movable dowels adjustably mounted on the lower ends of the arms of the back-section and arranged to engage thc under sides of the arms of the seatsection, and means for locking the back, seat and leg sections together in their adjusted positions, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

TILBUR F. PARMELEE.

In presence of- ARTHUR L. DEANE, STEPHEN B. DAvIs. 

